This is a very warm, wise, whimsical and "parallel" fantasy about a young woman, Matt, and a young man, Edmund, with opposite but complimentary gifts and life problems. The crux of the novel’s action is based on Edmund’s problems and people he knows and has known but it is Matt’s wisdom and experience that shine through clearest.

Since this is a fantasy, almost all of the characters have fantastical powers. Matt can understand man-made, inanimate objects and see people’s thoughts and personal wishes and dreams. Edmund is a witch and with help from "Spirit" is at home in the natural world, can sense and work with feelings and the basic structure of all things. Occasionally Matt’s and Edmund’s gifts can overlap one another’s but throughout most of the book, the characters feel awe and respect toward the other’s abilities which serves to highlight the specialness of that character. Hoffman very neatly uses other-world phenomenon to show up real world personal character and attributes.

What I liked most about the book was the range of problems and feelings dealt with and how comfortable and hopeful it made me feel about my own, yet nothing was done in "pat" or easy, conventional fashion. The terror of being found by an abusive father while trying to run away and the hate and rage Edmund felt in that situation, causing him to use his witch powers to lock the father inside himself forever, neither set of emotions, felt together in this scene, feels alien to the reader. The heady mix of anger, sadness, fear and sweet wistfulness felt by Matt when she accidentally creates a living, exact, younger version of herself and others using "wild magic" feels right to the reader also. I felt touched by the wild magic myself and wistful for the young self I once was and yet supported in who I am today.

Perhaps what feels like the book’s one flaw but which was most helpful to me, personally, was a subplot which took place at Edmund’s sister’s home. This whole subplot was about creativity and "owning" one’s self and one’s creations. It was very exciting and helpful but only tangentially related to the rest of the book’s plot.

If a reader enjoys fantasy, this is a supremely enjoyable one to read. Actually, I think anyone who doesn’t detest fantasies would find this book enjoyable and helpful but it could be especially helpful for readers in their mid-twenties or late-teens trying to find themselves or for those of any age with past histories of abuse.

Categories: Fiction, ClientReviews, General

Keywords: fantasy, science fiction